Cartridge feeding mechanism for automatic firearms



G. WEBB ET AL 2,537,562

CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Jan. 9, 1951 3 SheQtS-Sheet 1 Filed Aug, 14, I943 Z 2 g 7 Mm 51 5 H 6 FEW F 2 6 W 0 M E n L t 6 Em l/ 3 2.V. n p. w jwhw IA 0 m m 1 6 A a M Q Q m v% an 5 4% A O 6 O 8 %Z 6 Q F 6 0 w m 6 O M M Z r B U 4 w Jan. 9, 1951 G. WEBB ET AL 2,537,562

CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Aug. 14, 1945 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 fly. 5

Patented Jan. 9, 19 51 CARTRIDGE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIEtEARMS George Webb, Hartford, and William L. Swartz, West Hartford, Conn, assignors to Colts Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Connecticut Application August 14, 1943, Serial No. 498,624

. 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the feeding mechanism which coacts with a cartridge holding. feeder such as used with automatic firearms tomove said feeder through the feed channel of the firearm.

The improvements in the feeding mechanism of the firearm, while not to be so restricted, are primarily applicable to firearms of the type illustrated and described in Browning Patent 1,525,065: and in co-.pending application, Serial No. 325,405, filed March 22, 1940, in the name of George Webb, now Patent No, 2,375,452. The magazine shown and described in connection with'the presentinvention is in many respects similar to. the magazine illustrated in co-pending application, Serial No. 380,437, filed February 25, 1941, in the name of George Webb, new Patent No..2,375,453.

Automatic firearms of the type illustrated in Browning Patent 1,525,065 and Webb Patent 2,375,452 were originally primarily designed to use rigid feeders each holding a relatively few cartridges. some of said feeders were designed to accommodate five. cartridges While others accommodated as many as ten. Said firearms were .also found temperate satisfactorily with flexible feeders containing as many as fifteen cartridges and adapted to be disposed in a magazine accommodating. said flexible feeder and cartridges. Such a magazineis disclosed in the said, .Webb Patent 2,375,452, and in the Webb Patent 2,382,926, which was issued on application, Serial No..437,850, filed April 6, 1942, the said application being a division of the application on which was issued Patent 2,375,452. V

, .When automatic firearms of the type described in .saidpatents were usedin airplanes, it was found desirable to develop magazines containing relatively greater numbers of cartridges thanwere contained in the feeders and magazine referred. to in the foregoing, due to the fact that the; magazines attached to the firearms mounted in airplanes could not be readily reloaded in flight and, when. the magazine of said firearm was exhausted of cartridges, the airplane had to be grounded before the magazine could be reloaded. These circumstances led to the developmentof the magazine illustrated in the said Webb Patent 2,375,453, which is an endless belt type of magazine primarily but not restrictively adapted .to contain approximately thirty cartridges. Furthermore, the last said magazine was also primarily adapted to contain cartridges or rounds of such size as to develop a muzzle velocity of approximately,2,000 feet per second and the construction embodied in said magazine and thefeeding mechanismof the firearm operate satisfactorily when using ammunition of the size mentioned. Said firearms and magazines last above referred to were also primarily designed to use caliber 37 mm. ammunition although 'the principles embodied in said various inventions are not necessarily to be restricted to use with ammunition of said caliber.

Firearms of thetypereferred to in the forefirearms and magazines to use ammunition pro vided with projectiles of greater mass and having, correspondingly heavier charges to produce a muzzle velocity for said projectiles of approximately'3,000 feet persecond. This type of ammunition, was, materially larger in size and greater in weight than the 2,000 foot per secondv type ammunition described in the foregoing. The larger size cartridges, while requiring some re-designing of the firearm illustrated and described in said Browning Patent 1,525,065 and said Webb Patent, 2,375,452, required material changes in the construction of a magazine of the type gillustratedin said Webb Patent 2,375,453,

when adapted to contain a relatively. large num-. ber, such as thirty ;or more, of the larger size cartridges. :Theneed for. such changes was due primarily to theadditional weight of the larger size cartridges.

1 The general object of the present invention is to providea feedmechanism' adapted to be used with and as .a part of the improved magazine for the larger cartridgesabove referred to.

. ,A more. specific object of the present invention.

by the feed slide'of. the firearm to prevent rela-,

tive movement between the feed slide and feeder while movinginifee'ding direction, whereby the possibility of over-feeding of the feeder during such feeding movement of the feed slide is suba stantially-eliminated. 1 l V The detailsandother objects of the invention will be described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 1

r s-Ihe accompanying drawings show the embodiment of the invention which is deemed preferable, but it will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a rear end elevation of a firearm and a magazine embodying the principles of the present invention, said View bein partly broken away to expose details.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of said magazine mounted on a fragmentary portion of the firearm, said view being taken substantially onthe line 22 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the magazine viewed from the right hand side, said magazine being mounted on a fragmentary portion of the firearm and portions of the magazine are also broken away to better illustrate details thereof.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing the magazine viewed from the left hand side.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional vertical elevation taken on line 55 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the means embodied in the present invention for controlling the movement of the feeder.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the feeder control means in different positions from those illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 1'l of Fig. 5. Fig. 7* is a detail view of some of the parts showns in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the ends of the feeder which are connected together to form an endless feeder.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the feeder connecting means taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail end elevation on the same scale as Figs. 8 and 9, showing the feeder and the supporting means therefor in the feed channel.

As stated in the foregoing, the firearm illustrated in the present drawings operates satisfactorily to automatically fire cartridges of said larger size which, when fired, develop a muzzle velocity of approximately 3,000 feet per second. However, a magazine of the type shown in said Webb Patent 2,375,453, when adapted to accommodate thirty or more of such larger size cartridges, presents conditions which produce misfunctions in the operation of the feeder control pawls which are normally provided in the feed box of the firearm. Said conditions arise primarily from the substantially increased weight of the rounds carried by the magazine and particularly when about half of the rounds originally carried by the fully loaded magazine have been fired so that the magazine is only partially loaded. Under these conditions, the cartridges remaining in the magazine are disposed substantially entirely on one side of the magazine and, under normal conditions, are positioned above the feed channel whereby the force of gravity acts upon the increased mass or weight of the larger size cartridges to effect, at times, undesired feeding of the remaining cartridges to the feed channel of the firearm. Said force of gravity is greatly accented particularly when the firearm and magazine are mounted in an airplane and the airplane, for example, is levelling 01f from a power dive. Forces of gravity are frequently encountered, during such maneuvering, amounting to eight or ten times the normal force of gravity, for example.

In order that cartridges of said larger size may be satisfactorily fed to and fired by the firearm herein illustrated, the magazine as shown and the herein-described and illustrated improvements in the feeding mechanism of the firearm were developed. Said magazine and improvements in the feeding mechanism of the firearm primarily constitute additions to the feeder control mechanism normally provided in the firearm described particularly in said Webb Patent 2,375,452, whereby when the instant magazine is removed from the firearm, said firearm will nevertheless properly function with feeders or magazines containing smaller numbers of cartridges than the instant magazine. In other words, the additional feeder control mechanism rendered necessary by using the instant magazine is, for the most part, carried by said magazine, whereby a minimum of conversion of the firearm is required in order to adapt said firearm for use with said other types of feeders and/or magazines.

Referring to the drawings, the automatic firearm lll has a breech casing l2 which is surmounted by a feed box M provided with a cover l5 hingedly connected to one side thereof. The feed box is is provided intermediately of the ends thereof with a feed channel It extending substantially horizontally and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the firearm. The entrance i8 and the exit 20 of the feed channel are respectively provided in opposite side walls of the feed box l4.

A magazine generally designated 22 and having a generally arcuate configuration is shaped similarly to the magazine illustrated in said Webb Patent 2,375,453. In a number of respects, the instant magazine embodies principles similar to those illustrated and described in the last said patent. Basically, the instant magazine comprises a front or forward end wall or member 24 and a rearward end wall or member 26 spaced from said front member longitudinally of the major axis of the firearm. Said end members are respectively substantially planar and are each provided with a plurality of apertures such as indicated at 23, 30 and 32, the peripheries of which apertures are spaced inward from the outer periphery of the magazine except that aperture 30 extends through the lower portion of each end member to provide an opening 34 therein adapted to receive the feed box of the firearm. The apertures 28, 30 and 32 are provided principally to reduce the weight of the end members and also render readily accessible certain elements embodied within the magazine. Said apertures are separated by vertically disposed struts 36 which are preferably T-shaped in cross section, as indicated in Fig. 2, to strengthen said struts. Horizo-ntally disposed struts 38 are also provided for purposes to be described.

The feed box cover i5 is provided with a leafspring latch 39 adapted to engage the rib on one of the struts 36, which rib is afforded by the T-shaped formation of said strut, to releasably maintain said cover in vertical or raised position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the end plates 25 and 2e are each bipartite, the respective parts of the rearward end member being designated A and B and those of the forward end member being designated A and B. The respective parts of each bipartite end member are also respectively provided with overlapping portions 40 and 62 which are respectively provided with aligned apertures to accommodate a quick,

magazine end members together when theimaga l zine is attached to the'firearm, one looking mechanism being provided for each end member.

As previously stated, the opening 34 in the lower portion of the magazine accommodates the firearm and particularly the feed box. The portions of the lower part of each endmember disto. respectively engage the basesand nosesof posed immediately on opposite sides of said'opening Stare adapted to be respectively secured to the opposite sides of the feed box by quick detachable means similar to those disclosed in said Webb Patent 2,375,453. Said-quick idetachable means comprise a pair of'brackets 5ii-secured to the right side of the feed box, said brackets being 4 apertured to receive a headed pin-52 which also extends through suitable apertures provided in the end members 2 3 and 25 to accommodate said pin. If desired, the rearward end of said pin may be longitudinally grooved for a portion of its length to receive a resilient holding or looking member 54 which detachably'maintains said pi in operative position.

The left side of the feed box is provided'with plurality of laterally projecting notched pins 56 which are beveled at their outer ends and adapted to be held in operative position on said side of the'feed box by a pair of spaced plates 58 respectively disposed outward of the ends of entrance! 8 of the feed channel. Said plates 58 are apertured to receive'said pins 55 and are secured to said feed box side by suitable means such as rivets. The portions of the end members 24 and 26 immediately adjacent the feed box are also respectively provided with brackets 52 each having a pair of spaced bearing blocks 6d each accommodating a vertically slidable pin 66 which carries a pair of spaced notched looking blocks 58 eachbeveled at one end and adapted to respectively coengage with, the beveled and notched pins 56 to detachably secure said adjacent portion of the magazine to said left side of the feed box.

Theend members 24 and 25 are held in suitable spaced relationship by a plurality of headed. spacing rods iii whereby the assembled bipartite end members are removable from and attachable to the firearm as units each comprising a bipartite portion of the entire magazine. When securing said units to the firearm, the unit com-..

prising end member parts A and A is afiixed tothe right side of the feed box by pin 52 and the unit comprising end member parts B and B is affixed to:the left side of the feed box by moving the lower portion thereof horizontally to pass the pins 56 through the apertures therefor in bracket 62, following which the beveled ends of notched blocks 68 coengage with the beveled ends-ofithe pins 55 to cam the locking blocks. 68 into respec-' tive engagement with the notches of pins-5E5 to: secure said unit thereto. Pins Eli-are normally respectively biased by springs H to urge the looking block E38 upward into engagement with the pins 56. Disengagement of the blocks 68' from the pins 58 is effected by pressing down'ward a button it fixed to the upper end of each pin 66. After the respective units have been thussecured at their lower portions to the opposite sides of the feed box, the upper portions of-said units are secured by the quick detachable lo'ckingme'chanismfll. I

f The end members 26 and 25 are alsores'pecti-ve cartridges to be carried by the magazine. In effoot, the flanges and end plates thus comprisea. generally curved cartridge guideway which opens.- outward of the magazine. \Said cartridges arediagrammatically designated Bil in Figs. 5 and 6. .i

The magazine is also provided with a cartridge feeder guideway or guidechannel 82 which is generally arcuate and corresponds to the cone figuration of the outer periphery of the end members except that the periphery of the guideway-is disposed inward from the periphery of said, end members a substantially even distance. The guideway 82 includes a plurality of arcs havingdifferent radii. Each of the two portions of the guideway spaced outermost or fartherest horizontally from the feed box comprisesan arc having a smaller radiu than that of anyother portion of the guideway. The bases of said outer-.

most arcuate portions of the guideway are respectively coincident with the peripheries of two reels 84 and 88 each consisting of a pair of spaced 7 discs 88 and 9d and the discs of each pair beingjoined by a plurality of spacing rods 92 and 94.

i The reels G 3 and are respectively provided with apertured hubs 95 and 98'which are respectively pivotally mounted on 'two substantially parallel shafts lflll and M2. The opposite'ends of the shafts it!) and IE2 are supported in apertures EM and let provided in the outermost a vertical struts 3% or" the end membersand are held in operative position by suitablecotter pins, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The horizontal struts 38 serve to brace said vertical struts 35 to more rigidly support the aper tured portions thereof which receive the shafts lllilandlilE. r r

The reels 84 and 85 are substantially identical in construction except that reel 83 is provided with an annular narrow drum Hi8 which is disposed between the spaced discs at a short distance inward from the peripheries thereof. The drum W8 is for purposes to'be described.

A pair of parallelly spaced arcuate plates! [0 are respectively disposed in the planes of and above the spaced discs $8 and 953 of the reels, the outermost edges of said plates defining the bottom of that portion of the guideway 82 which is above said reels. Said plates He are suitably apertured to receive and be supported by those spacing rods iii which are disposed in the upper portion of the magazine. Said plates are also severed intzrmediately of their ends at the junc t'ure-defining the abutting portions of thetwo bipartite parts of the magazine to permit separationof said parts when desired. The underside of each outermost end of said plates H0 is tapered inward as indicated at H2 in Fig. 1, whereby the outer edg;s of said plates terminate adjacent and substantially tangentially to the peripheries of the discs comprising the reels 84 and 85. 4

Thesides of the guideway-82 are respectivelydefinedby a pair of parallel spaced arcuate plates H4 and-l 16 respectively disposed in spaced-relationship to the outer sides of the plates I Ill and the-reels 84 and 86. The arcuate outer periphe'r-ies of saidplates H4 and lIli-projectoutward;

a short distance beyond the outer peripheries of the plates H and the reels 84 and 80, whereby all of said plates and reels cooperate to form a channel-like skeleton guideway opening outward of the center portion of the magazine and adapted to receive a flexible articulated-link feeder to be presently described. The arcuate configuration of the plates I I4 and I I6 is similar to that of the end members 22 and 20 and said plates are supported by the plurality of spacing rods I0 and shafts I00 and I02 which rods and shafts are received in suitable apertures provided in said plates. Said plates and end members are maintained in proper spaced relationship by hubs 96 and 98 of the reels and spacing sleeves H8 which surround rods I0, I00 and I02, between said plates and the end members 2 and 26. Plates [I4 and I I0 are also medially severed at the juncture defining the abutting portions of the two bipartite parts of the magazine. Said plates are further provided with a plurality of weight reducing apertures Ill. It will also be noted that the lower edge of each plate H4 and Ill; is also substantially straight and extends inward substantially to the adjacent wall of the feed box I4 to prevent upward movement of the feeder.

The magazine is also provided with a plurality of curved foraminous plates I20 and I22 extending between and respectively disposed against the outermost edges of the end members 24 and 26, said plates preventing accidental movement of the cartridges from the feeder, to be described, when the feeder is moving around its guideway 02. Plate I20 has its inner end disposed adjacent to but spaced slightly from the right hand side of the feed box as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The sides of said inner end of the plate I20 are accommodated in a pair of opposed grooves I24 respectively formed in the end members 24 and 26. The outer end of plate I20 terminates slightly below the plane in which the shafts I00 and I02 are disposed and said outermost end is held in proper position against the outer edges of the end members by a pair of spaced leaf-spring latches I20 respectively provided with manipulating handles I28.

Plate I22 has its upper end projecting farther around the outer edges of the end members 24 and 26 than the upper edge of plate I2d, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The lower or innermost edge of said plate terminates substantially at the point indicated I30 in Fig. I. Said plate is secured to the outer edges of the end members 24 and 26 by a plurality of manually slidable latches I32 carried by said plate and adapted to be respectively received in apertured ears I34 carried by said end members. Said slidable latches I32 are preferably secured in looking position by spring-pressed buttons I36 movably carried by the plate I22 and adapted to engage the innermost end of each latch when in latching position. When buttons I36 are depressed inward, the latches may be moved from latching position.

A curved cylindrical tube I30, which alternatively may be a rod, is fixed to the interior surface of the plate I22 substantially opposite the guideway 02, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Said tube is adapted to engage a portion of the outer surface of each cartridge when moving around the guideway and the flanges TI and I8 to prevent accidental movement of the cartridges outward of the feeder holding the same. In view of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube I38, a minimum of friction will be developed between said tube and cartridges. The opposite ends of' said tube are preferably tapered inward, as shown in Fig. 1, to facilitate the initial slidable engagement of each cartridge with said tube. Said tube also serves to render the curved plate I22 mor rigid.

It will be apparent that both plates I20 and I22 are readily removable from the magazine to facilitate the loading of the feeder with cartridges. After the feeder has been loaded with the full number of cartridges to be carried thereby, said plates are fixed on the magazine in the position shown in Figs. 1 through 4.

To supplement the retaining of the cartridges within the feeder by plate I22 and tube I38, if desired, an auxiliary flange I39, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, may be formed on end member 24. Said flange I39v is curved and evenly spaced from the flange TI to provide an arcuate groove between said flanges for slidably receiving therein the noses of the cartridges. It will thus be seen that the flange I30, which extends around said end member a distance substantially equal to the length of plate I22, will serve to prevent movement of the noses of the cartridges outward from the feeder when said cartridges are moving through the channel formed by flanges TI and I39. If desired, end member 20 may also be provided with a flange similar to flange I39 for purposes of providing, in combination with flange I8, a groove adapted to receive the bases of the cartridges to prevent movement of the same outward from the feeder.

A horizontally disposed substantiall flat plate I40 is disposed between the lower outer edges of end members 26 and 26 and is received in grooves MI respectively provided in the inner surfaces of said end members, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Said plate, in effect, comprises a continuation of the innermost or lower end of plate I22, plate I40 extending outward beyond said end of plate I22. A vertical rib I II extending upward from plate I40 and parallel to end member 24 is adapted to engage the noses of cartridges to guide them in proper horizontal position to be fed to the feed channel of the firearm. It will thus be seen that plate I22, in conjunction with plate I40, serves to cover or close the outermost open face of the cartridge and feeder guideways and prevent movement of cartridges outward and downward from said guideways.

Plate I40 is also provided with a pair of spaced pivotall mounted dogs I52 adapted to project at their inner ends through suitable apertures M0 provided in plate I40. The dogs I42 are mounted on a horizontal shaft I40 carried by a pair of apertures respectively formed in the end members 24 and 26. Said dogs are also preferabl integrally joined by a web I48 extending therebetween. The inner ends of the dogs are normally biased upward by a coil spring I50 surrounding shaft I46. Shaft I46 also pivotally supports an operating handle I52 disposed intermediately of the dogs I42. The inner end of operating handle I52 is adapted to engage web I48 to move the inner end of said dogs downward when the outer end of said handle is moved upward. The purpose of dogs I42 will be presently described.

The guideway 82 is adapted to receive a flexible articulated-link feeder I 54 which is fragmentarily illustrated in position in said guideway in Fig. 1 and is also shown in detail in Figs. 5 through 10. Said feeder is of a more simplified construction. than that embodied in the feeder shown in said Webb Patent 2.375.452, enactmprises a plurality of pivotally connectedU-shaped channel-like links I56, said links being arranged in end to end relationship to form a substantially flexible channel which is disposable'around the guideway 32 in such position that'said flexible channel opens outward. Said links'are preferably formed of sheet metal and may be'stamped from said metal in the form of {blanks Which-are subsequently bent into channel shape as described. In view of this, said links ma be-more inexpensively manufactured than other links heretofore used forsimilar purposes. The opposite sides.v or legs IE8 of the links comprise side flanges, each of which is provided with a cartridge receiving notch I50 extending inward from the outer edge of each flange.

The side flanges of said links are each provided at their opposite ends with outward extending or projecting ears I62. The cars extending from oneendpf each link arerespectively oifsetoutward at distance approximately equal to the thicknessof the sheet-lik material from whichlthe links-are formed, whereb said offset ears are adapted to be disposed in overlapping. relationship with the nn-offset ears on the adjacent end of the link to besecured thereto. Said overlapping ears are respectively provided with suitably aligned apertures I59 to receive rivets I64 Which serve to secure the adjacent links together and provide pivots about which said links may .relatively rotatea' limited amount. Said apertures and'rivets' are disposed slightly above thehori- "zontalmedial line .ofgthe side flanges of the links,

clearly'shown in Figs. 5, 6 and-'8,'forpurposes to-be described. Said adjacent edges ofthe ends of base members I56 are also provided with substantially shallow rectangular notches I68 to provide,- in conjunction with the otherspacebetween the edges of base members I65, an opening .comprising ajeed recess 1 "Iii-adapted to receive feeder movement controlling pawls to bepresently-described. r

Eachlink IE6 is also provided with a U-shaped spring I12 adapted to releasablyhold -a cartridge within the spaced notches ifill'provided in the side flanges of each link; The cartridges 8!] aremounted=fwithin-- the feeder b -merely snapping the same=into the'notches I60, against the action of the outer endsof the springs H2 said outer ends of thesprings being shaped to engage-the cylin- .:dri'cal "surfaces "of the cartridges after they are properly seated within the notches I60 to releasablyi hold thecartridges therein. I czirAfter a feederof the proper length has been fabricatedby pivotally joining the correct numberrof indiv'idual links, the ends of vsaid: feederaare adapted to; 'be joined by quick detachable securing means" illustrated in detail in Figs; 8 and-9 totthus forman endless feeder disposable in the guidewayflz andextending around the magazine ihsjoutlinedby dotted lineIIS in Fig. 1. The end links which are joined by said "quick detachable I meansare'tshap'edmo differently from the other links. Howevenupon the alignment; of the etherl0 tures I59 respectively in the'ears of said links'ja headed pivot pin I14 is inserted in each pair of aligned apertures rather than pivotall secure said cars by rivets. Said pivot pin is preferably tapered atone end, as clearly shown in Fig. 9,

*and the head lid on the other end has a diameter larger than-the=apertures I59 to limit the movement of said pivot pin therethrough. The end of the pivot pin adjacent the head I16 is formed with a reduced diameter to provide an annular groove I18 for purposesto be described.

Theears I62 extending from one end link are 'each provided with a pivot pin locking member I adapted to receive. the shank of the pivot pin I14 whie the smaller portion thereof is adapted .to receive the groove Ii8 of the pivot pin. When the pivot pins are inserted within th aligned apertures I59, the locking member 180 is' disposed in the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 8. The larger portion of the aperture I88 is then aligned with the apertures I59 for receiving the shank of the pivot pin I'M. The head I16 of said pin will limit the insertion of the pin into said apertures. When the head I16 has been moved into abutment with looking member I80, said locking member is then moved to the full line position illustrated in Fig..8't0 dispose the perimeter of the sma'ler portion of aperture I88 ously, the protuberance I84 will then be disposed in theaperture I86 to secure the locking member in looking position to prevent accidental removal of *the'pivot pin I'M from the apertures of the ears of the now pivotallyconnected end links.

By simply pivoting each locking member I tothe dotted line position indicated in .Fig. 8,;

- ance I 84 from engagement with the aperture I86.

The feed channel it is provided with a pair'of parallelly spaced'stripper cams 196 respectively provided with cartridge camming surfaces I92. The uppersurface 'of'each of the stripper cams comprises a guide surface for the feeder I54 while moving through the feed channel. As is shown "in-Fig; 10, the cams IQIJ are adapted to pass between the side flanges of the feeder links and the 'edgesof springs I12 which are carried by each link. 'As a loadedfeeder moves in feeding direction, or toward the right as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, the narrow pointed ends of the stripper cams their normal position in the notchesin eachlink,

The shape of. the cam surfaces I92 is such that each cartridge will be entirely disengaged from thefe'eder link norma ly carrying the samewhen saidpartridgereaches a position substantially 11 transversely midway of the breech casing I2, which position is illustrated by the cartridge 80 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5.

The feeder and cartridges contained therein are moved in feeding direction around the guideway of the magazine by a feed slide I94 which is slidably mounted for transverse movement in feeding and retrograde direction in the upper portion of the feed channel. Said feed slide is slidably mounted in guideways I95 respectively provided in opposite sides of the feed channel, as shown in Fig. 3. Said feed slide is provided with a suitable slot I96 adapted to accommodate a depending lug carried by the feed slide lever I98 as shown in Fig. 7. The lever I98 is automatically actuated by breech mechanism included in the feed box and breech casing of the firearm, which breech mechanism is moved automatically upon the firing of cartridges in the firearm.

Said breech mechanism is not completely illustrated in detail in the description of the present invention inasmuch as it constitutes no part thereof. However, said Browning Patent 1,525,065 and said Webb Patent 2,375,452 clearly and fully illustrate the mechanism serving to automatically actuate the feed slide lever I90 and, for a complete description of said operating mechanism, attention is directed to said patents.

The lever I93 primarily serves to intermittently reciprocate the feed slide in feeding direction while a biasing lever 200 is provided with a depending lug adapted to engage a slot 202 in the feed slide for insuring the movement of the feed slide in retrograde direction at the completion of each feeding movement or stroke thereof. Details of the biasing lever 200 will be found in a copending application, Serial No. 377,818, filed February '7, 1941, now Patent No. 2,372,462 dated March 27, 1945, in the name of George Webb. For further details of the construction and operation of said biasing lever, attention is directed to said application, since said biasing lever forms no part of the present invention.

The feed slide illustrated in the present application is similar to that shown in said Webb Patent 2,375,452. However, the present feed slide is provided with a feeder engaging feed pawl 204 which is different from the plurality of feed pawls illustrated in said patent. Feed pawl 264 is mounted in a suitable recess formed on the underside of said feed slide and is pivotally carried by a horizontal pin 206 extending across said recess in the feed slide. Said pawl is provided with a feeder engaging tooth 208 adapted to suecessively engage one wall of feed recesses I70 disposed between the adjacent ends of the links I56 Said pawl is also normally biased by spring 2 I in a direction to be disposed successively into said feed recesses.

Feed pawl 204 may be raised from engagement with the feed recesses, when the cover I is in open position, by means of a manually engage- -able handle or button 2I2 extending upward from said pawl. The handle 2 I 2 projects through and extends above the upper surface of the feed slide, said feed slide being provided with an aperture 2 I 4 to accommodate said handle.

A holding pawl 2I6 is also disposed in said recess in the underside of the feed slide and is pivotally mounted therein on pin 206. As shown in Fig. 7, the feed pawl 204 is provided with a pair of legs which are pivoted to the pin 206, one of said legs being narrower than the other to provide a space to accommodate the pivotally l2 mounted end of the holding pawl 2I6. Said pivoted end of the holding pawl is narrower than the toothed end and said holding pawl is also provided with a portion 2L8 which overlies one corner of the feed pawl 204, whereby as the feed pawl is raised from engagement with the feeder by the handle 2I2, said one corner of the feed pawl engages the overlying portion 2I8 of the holding pawl and continued upward movement of the feed pawl serves to also raise the holding pawl from engagement with said feeder. Further details and the function of the holding pawl will be presently described.

The feed box of the firearm is provided with means to control the movement of the feeder through the feed channel, said means being particularly adapted for use when the firearm is being used without the magazine herein described being secured thereto. Said feeder movement controlling means comprises a retaining dog 220 pivotally carried by a bracket 222 fixed at its opposite ends to the sides of the feed box. Said retaining dog is provided with a tooth 22 1 adapted to extend into the successive spaces between the upper ends of the side flanges of adjacent links to prevent accidental retrograde movement of the feeder while being fed through the feed channel. Retaining dog 226 is normally spring-pressed in feeder engaging direction by means not shown but said means are similar to those illustrated in said Webb Patent 2,372,462 for actuating the retaining dog illustrated therein. When the feeder is moving in feeding direction, said tooth 224 is automatically camrned from engagement with the edges of the links defining the spaces between the links of the feeder.

A stop dog 226 is also pivotally carried by bracket 222 and is provided with a tooth 228 adapted to be disposed in the successive spaces between the upper portions of the side flanges of adjacent feeder links to normally prevent further movement of the feeder in feeding direction after the feed slide has completed each intermittent feeding movement of the feeder. Stop dog 226 is also normally urged in feeder engaging direction by means not shown but which means are similar to those illustrated in said Webb Patent 2,372,462 for biasing a similar stop dog.

In order that stop dog 226 may be moved from its position shown in Figs. 7 and 7 so as to permit the next intermittent feeding movement of the feeder in feeding direction, the feed slide is provided with a horizontally disposed cam 230, the left end of which, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 7 engages said stop dog 226 at 22'! substantially at the end of the movement of the feed slide in retrograde direction, whereby the tooth 228 of said dog is moved forward in the feed box from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 7*, wherein said tooth is disposed in the space between said feeder links. Upon the commencement of the next movement of the feed slide in feeding direction, the space last receiving said stop dog tooth will be moved with the feeder past the position shown inFig. 7 before the cam 230 clears said stop dog to permit said dog to be subsequently biased into position to engage the edge of the side flange of the next succeeding link. The successive normal feeding movements of the feeder by the feed slide are thus not obstructed by said stop dog. Said stop dog 226 is to be distinguished from a stop pawl carried by the magazine, which stop pawl is to be presently described.

As has been partially described in the foregoing, the retaining dog and stop dog described immediately intheforegoing are adequate to control the movement of a feeder'containing a small number of cartridges and even asmany as fifteen orso, particularly, when said cartridges are-being fed-to the feed channel in a substantially horizontal direction'so'that the force of gravity does not assistin moving the cartridges in feeding direction. -However, when a magazine carrying cartridges considerably exceeding fifteen'in number is attached to the firearm, and particularly Where said cartridges are of the larger size adapted to develop muzzle velocities of approximately 3,000 feet per second, the weight of the cartridges moving downward on the left hand 'side of the magazine particularly, as viewed in Fig. 1, tends under some circumstances toautomatically move the feeder in feeding direction through the feed channel irrespective of the feed-v ing movement thereof by the feed slide, whereby overfeeding of the feeder may occur so as toprematurely strip cartridges-from thefeeder and jam the prematurely stripped cartridges in the breech. casing or the chamber of thefirearm. T he. force'of gravity acting upon said=cartridges [moving downward in the left handrside of the magazine'is also sometimes sufiiciently'great to cause'a too rapid movement of the feeder in feed- "ing direction, whereby not only may premature stripping of cartridges take place, but said feeder may bemoved too rapidly for-the stop dog 226 to engage, in the spaces between the adjacent feeder links and prevent overfeeding of the feeder. v

wordsfevenwhenthe feeder is moving-too rapidly for-stop dog 226 to engage in the space between the feeder links, the tooth 244 of stop pawl 236 will nevertheless engage the walls of the nextsucceeding feed recess I!!! to effect stopping of the feeding movement of the feeder.

Not only will the stop pawl 236 coact with one At the time said stop pawl tooth. is thus remcvedfrom said recess, the

tooth of feed pawl 204 is in engagement with the feed recess ill] to be next engaged thereby and,

additionally, the toothof holding pawl. 2l6lis within the feed recess HE] next preceding that engaged by saidtooth of feed pawl 29%, whereby the-holding pawl 2E6 will prevent movement of the feeder in feeding direction. notwithstanding 1 Such malfunctions or misfunctions of the f eeding mechanism of the firearm have been found to existonly when a magazine of the type illustrated is usedwithsaid firearm and wherein cartridges of said larger size are contained." Ac- .cordingly; in order that such malfunctions -or misfunctions may be prevented and to insure -that the feedermay bepositively stopped at the end of each successive movement thereof in feeding direction, the present magazine has been designed to include a bell crank 232 pivotally mounted, on a transverse shaft 23:i extending between and carried byend members 24 and zt. One leg or arm of the bell crank comprises an auxiliary stop pawl 236 adapted to-coact successively with feed recesses I15 of the feeder. The other leg or arm 2% of the-bell crankis adapted to be engaged by the left end of the feed slide, as viewed in Fig. 6, Stop pawl 235 is normally biased in feeder engaging directionby a coil spring 256 which is coiled aboutthe shaft 234 and respectively engages with its opposite ends the stop pawl 236 and an aperture 252 formed in plate I'M. r. 9

The outer end of stop pawl 236 is provided with a tooth 244 which is directly and successively received within the successive feed recesses ill! substantially at the completion of each movement of the feeder in feeding direction. .More specifically, said tooth 244 is received within the notches I58 provided in the ends of each link. While the feeder is moving in feeding direction, the tooth 25d of the stop pawlZBfi slidably rides on top of the feeder links and, when the next succeeding feed recess moves into position to receive tooth 2%, the strength of the spring 248 is sufficient to insure that said tooth. will posi tively be received therein, regardless of the force of gravity which may reasonably be expected to prevail under any circumstances to act upon the feeder, or the-speed with which the feedermay be moving under saidcircumstancesiuln other .the fact thatthe stop pawl236has been disengaged from the feeder.

.It will thus. be seen that.the stop .pawl 236" and the'holding pawl 2H; jointly serve to positively prevent overfeeding of the feederatall times, regardless of the position in which the feed slide may be. and also regardless of whether or not the function of the firearm has been such that the stcpdog 226 has .or hasnot functioned. After the feedslide has returned to starting fposition, as indicated in Fig. 6, for the purposes of engaging the next succeeding link of the feeder to be fed through the feed channel, the feed pawl. 2B4 ceactswith. a feed recess I10 and holding pawl 2E5 coacts with the next preceding feedrecess. .During the next successive intertained in the bore of said bracket. in Fig. .5, spring 248 normally biases the plunger mittent feeding movement of the feed slide and feeder. the holding pawl 216 will. prevent any appreciable relative movement between the feed slide. and feeder during substantially the entire feeding. movement. Substantially at the end of '.said feedingmovement, and at which time stop pawl 236 is in position to coact with its next ing pawl in feeding direction, by releasing or 'jdisengaging means 238 carried by the magazine adjacent the exit end of the feed channel.

Disengaging means 235 comprises a bracket 24!} secured to plate lit by suitable boltsZAZ'.

Bracket 2&0 is horizontally bored to receivea .slidable'plunger 2 55 provided with a shaft 255 surrounded by a spring 248 which is also con- 245 .toward the left or holding pawl engaging direction and movement of said plunger in said direction is limited by engagement of a cotter After initial engagement of cam face 2 5d ofthe holding pawl ZIE with the cam face 252 of the,pli 1nger 2A5, continued movement .of the holding. pawl in feeding ..direction will; serve 1 first to raise said As viewed 7 pawl from engagement with said feed recess I10.

- Further continued movement of the holding pawl in feeding direction after said disengagement will serve to also move plunger 2% toward the right a short distance, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, to substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. Such movement of the plunger will compress spring 248.

At the commencement of the movement of the feed slide in retrograde direction, the biasing force of spring 258 will serve to retain the cam faces of the plunger and holding pawl in coengagement and also maintain the holding pawl tooth out of engagement with the feeder while said plunger is moving from the position shown in Fig. 5 to substantially that shown in Fig. 6. Said amount of movement is sufiicient to move the holding pawl clear of and past the feed recess I'IIl last engaged thereby. When said feed recess has been cleared by the holding pawl and the movement of the plunger 245 in retrograde direction has been arrested by cotter pin 25!), the cam faces 252 and 25% will become disengaged and the tooth of the holding pawl, which is normally biased by a spring 2555 in feeder engaging direction, will then engage the upper surface of the next link and ride on the same toward the left,

as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, until the feed recess I at the left end of said link is reached for receiving the tooth of said holding pawl. thus be seen that the plunger 2&5 not only serves to disengage the holding pawl from the feed rece'ss but also acts to clear said holding pawl of said feed recess in order that said holding pawl may move in retrograde direction to coact with the next succeeding feed recess.

When the firearm is being automatically fired, the movement of the feed slide and the various dogs and pawls controlled and actuated thereby is very rapid. This is particularly true with regard to the movement of stop pawl 236. Notwithstanding the fact that said pawl is normally biased in a direction to engage the feeder, when said pawl is raised from engagement with said feeder by the end of the feed slide engaging leg 238, the outer end of the stop pawl 235 is raised very rapidly upward between the discs comprising the sides of reel 86 and the momentum of the movement might be sufficient to overcome the force of spring 249 and move said outer end sufficiently high to interfere with one of the rods 94 holding the discs of reel 86 in spaced relationship were it not for the inclusion of drum I08 in reel 86, which drum will thus prevent any interference between the stop pawl 236 and the rods 84.

The pair of dogs M2 are primarily adapted to assist retaining dog 22d to prevent movement of the feeder and cartridges contained therein in retrograde direction. Dogs I42 are biased upward, whereby their free ends are adapted to engage betwcen succeeding cartridges. The disposition of the pivot for said dogs, the dogs, and the cartridges, is such that movement of the cartridges in feeding direction will automatically cam said dogs downward past the next succeeding cartridge and spring I51] will then automatically bias said dogs upward into engagement with the other side of said next succeeding cartridge and the adjacent side of the next following cartridge. Said disposition of the enumerated members, however, is also such that retrograde movement of the cartridges and feeder will be prevented by said dogs M2. In the event it is desired to manually move the feeder and cartridges It will 1 readily moved from their operative position by manipulating handle I52 to move said dogs downward.

The magazine may be loaded with cartridges by inserting the same in the notches I60 of the side flanges of the links comprising that portion of the feeder I54 which is disposed between the upper edges of plates I 20 and I22. Loading of this portion of the magazine is feasible inasmuch as the guideway defined by flanges l1 and 18 opens outward of the magazine at this portion thereof. Even if plate E22 is removed from the magazine, the flange I39, if embodied in the magazine, extends upward a distance substantially equal to the length of plate I22 and will thus prevent insertion of cartridges in that portion of the feeder disposed opposite said flange. Plate i2Il, however, should be removed to permit loading of that portion of the feeder which is disposed opposite said plate. Inasmuch as plate IE!) is not adapted to be readily removed from the magazine, that portion of the feeder extending between the entrance side of the feed channel and the upper end of plate I22 or flange I39 has to be loaded by first loading the other exposed portions of the feeder and then moving said loaded portions around the guideway to dispose said loaded portions opposite plate I40 and flange I39, Following this, the remaining unloaded and exposed portions of the feeder may be readily loaded with cartridges, whereby the magazine will finally be fully loaded. That portion of the feeder which is opposite plate I2!) is normally the last to be loaded inasmuch as said portion is adjacent the exit end of the feed channel. Plate I20 is replaced and locked in operative position after said portion of the feeder has been loaded, the magazine then being fully loaded.

In View of the fact that the stop pawl 236 or the holding pawl ZIE, or both, will normally serve to prevent free movement of the feeder around the guide channel therefor and through the feed channel, the complete loading of the magazine in the manner above described is achieved by providing auxiliary charging means for manually operating the feed slide.

Said manually operable means comprises a crank-like handle 268 pivoted at 262 and having a hand engageable member 212. A spring 304 biases the member 268 for movement in the clockwise direction. Manual oscillation of the member 268 causes reciprocation of the feed slide and the intermittent advancement of the feeder through the feed channel. The details of the charging means do not constitute any part of the present invention and further description is unnecessary.

When it is desired. to remove the magazine from the firearm for any purpose, the pivotally connected end links of the feeder are first disconnected by manipulating the locking members I disposed on opposite sides thereof and then removing said feeder and any cartridges contained therein from the magazine and feed channel' The quick detachable locking mechanisms 44 are then removed from the end members to permit the separation of the upper portions of the bipartite forming the framelike magazine. The lower portions of said two parts are then separately disconnected from the respective sides of the feed box to which they are normally held attached by the quick detachable securing means described in the foregoing. The firearm may then be used with any other 1? suitable type of magazine or feeder. The present feed slide carrying the holding pawl 25% should also be removed unless said feed slide is to be next used in combination with a magazine having a releasing means similar toholding pawl releasing means 233' described above. Such feed slide may, for example, be replaced by one similar to that illustrated in said Webb Patents 2,375,452,

and 2,372,462.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a magazine embodying improvements which render the magazine adapted to operate in a completely satisfactory manner under all conditions and while holding larger sized cartridges than those heretofore carried by similar magazines. Notwithstanding the added weight of said larger sized cartridges, the details of the invention embodied in the present magazine and feeder operating and control mechanism are such that the feeder and cartridges are moved around said magazine with a minimum of friction and the intermittent move- .ments of the feeder and cartridges to and through the feed channel are positively controlled during all phases of such movement so that no substantial overfeeding or retrograde movement of the feeder may take place.

The various parts of the magazine and feeding mechanism are designed to produce a minimum of weight in the assembled magazine while sacrificing no essential strength or rigidity in said magazine. Furthermore, the magazine and the various feeder movement controlling members are readily accessible and removable from the firearm to which they are secured, in most instances, by quick detachable means. The instant feeder is designed so as to be durable yet simple and the same may also be inexpensively manufactured. For the most part, the quick detachable means for securing the ends of the feeder together and for securing the magazine to the firearm are carried at all times either by the feeder or by the magazine, whereby they will not become misplaced orlost when not being used. The invention also includes means for easily and readily manually advancing the feeder through the magazine.

In the foregoing, descriptive terms used to denote position and/or direction such as horizontal, vertical, forward, rearward, downward, upward, depending, and the like, are used with respect to the firearm and magazine when mounted in the normal position which is that illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 when the sheets containing the same are disposed vertically. The forward end of the firearm is the muzzle end or that end from which the barrel projects. Similarly, the rearward end is the end opposite the forward or muzzle end and is also the end adjacent which the manually operable means 260 are mounted. Also in the foregoing, the term transverse is used to denote the direction in which the feed slide and feed channel extend with respect to the longitudinal axis of the firearm. Said descriptive terms are therefore to be considered in the same relative sense with feeder as cartridges are being fed to the firearm during normal functioning; and with s-pecific reference to the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated, it has reference to movement of the feeder in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. Similarly the term retrograde when used as descriptive of the movement of the feeder, the feed slide (togetherwith the parts carried by the feed slide) and the withholding pawl disengaging means 238', is to be understood as connoting movement of a direction oppositeto that of forward, as above defined, or clockwise when considered in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention as viewed in Fig. 5'.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodimentand has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways, falling within the scope of the invention "as claimed.

What we claim is:

1. In an automatic firearm having a feed channel to receive cartridges and a cartridge feeder provided with spaced feed recesses the combination of a feed slide reciprocably mounted for movement in feeding and retrograde directions and provided with a feed pawl successivelyengageable with the feed recesses ofa feeder to'intermittently move said feeder and cartridges through said feed channel in feeding direction, a holding pawl on the said feed'slide successively engageable with the feed recesses of a feeder for substantially the full lengths of the intermittent feeding movements thereof to positively prevent movement or the feeder in the feeding direction withfrespect to the slide, and means engageable with said holding pawl substantially at the end of each intermittent movement of the feed slide in feeding direction to disengage said holding pawl from a feed recess engaged thereby, said disengaging means serving to maintain said holding pawl disengaged from the last engaged feed recess for at least the first portion of the retrogradejmovement of the feed slide and the attached holding pawl.

2. In an automatic firearm havin feed channel to receive cartridges and a cartridge feeder provided with spaced feed recesses, the combination of a feed slide reciprocably mounted formovement in feeding and retrograde directions and.

provided with a feed pawl successively engages able with said feed recesses of a feeder to. inter: mittently move said feeder and cartridges through said feed channel in feeding direction, aholding pawl on the said feed slide successively g ge; able with the feed recesses of a feeder for sub: stantially the full lengths of the intermittent feeding movements thereof to positively prevent movement of the feeder in the feeding direction with respect to the slide, reciprocably movable disengaging means adapted to engage and be moved with said holding pawl during the latter portion of each intermittent movement of the feed slide in feeding directionand serving during such movement to disengage said holding pawl from a feed recess engaged thereby, and biasing means urging said disengaging means in retrograde direction during the first portion of each retrograde movement of said feed slide and the attached holding pawl to maintain said holding pawl disengaged from the last engaged feed recess until after said recess has been cleared thereby.

3. In an automatic firearm having a transverse feed channel to receive cartridges and a cartridge feeder provided with a plurality of spaced feed recesses, the combination of a feed slide reciprocably mounted for movement in feeding and retrograde directions in said feed channel and provided with a feed pawl adapted to successively engage said spaced feed recesses in .a feeder to intermittently move said feeder and cartridges through said feed channel in feeding direction, a holding pawl carried by said feed slide and adapted to successively engage the feed recesses of a feeder for substantially the full lengths of the intermittent feeding movement of said feeder, the said holding pawl serving in conjunction with the feed pawl to prevent any appreciable relative movement between said .feeder and feed slide during each intermittent feeding movement and the said holding pawl having a cam face thereon, and a reciprocably mounted disengaging member provided with a cam face positioned to engage the cam face of said holding pawl substantially at the end of each feeding movement thereof to disengage said holding pawl from a feed recess engaged thereby, said disengaging member being movable .with said feed slide and holding pawl at the commencement of retrograde movement there- ,of at least a suificient distance to clear the holding pawl of said last engaged feed recess.

4. In an automatic firearm having a feed channel adapted to receive a feeder and cartridges carried thereby, the combination of a feed slide adjacent the feed channel and automatically reciprocable in the feeding direction and in the retrograde direction in timed relationship with the functioning of the firearm, means on the feed slide automatically engageable with a feeder in thefeed channel to positively lock the said feeder 'in substantially fixed relationship with the slide during the major portion of each feeding movement of the latter, and means for automatically releasing the said locking means near the end lof each feeding movement to permit the slide to move in the retrograde direction independently of the feeder.

' 5. In an automatic firearm provided with a transverse feed channel adapted to receive car- Itridges and a cartridge feeder having a plurality of feed recesses spaced longitudinally thereof, M

the combination of a feed slide reciprocably mounted in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions and having a feed pawl successively engageable in spaced feed recesses of a feeder for intermittently feeding said. feeder and cartridges through said feed channel, means automatically operable by the functioning of the firearm to reciprocate said feed slide, a magazine removably attached to said firearm and adapted to hold a cartridge feeder and cartridges in position to be fed to said feed channel, and an auxiliary stop pawl mounted on said magazine and removable therewith from the firearm, the said stop pawl being adapted to engage a feeder at the completion of each intermittent feeding movement thereof to prevent further movement of the feeder in feeding direction while said feed slide is moving in retrograde direction.

6. In an automatic firearm provided with a transverse feed channel adapted to receive cartridges and a cartridge feeder having aplurality of feed recesses spaced longitudinally thereof, the combination of a feed slide reciprocably mounted in said feed channel for movement in feeding and retrograde directions and having a feed pawl successively engageable in spaced feed recesses of a feeder for intermittently feeding said feeder and cartridges through said feed channel, means automatically operable by the functioning of the firearm to reciprocate said feed slide, a magazine removably attached to said firearm and adapted to hold a cartridge feeder and cartridges in position to be fed to said feed channel, an auxiliary stop pawl mounted on said magazine adjacent said feed channel of the firearm and removable therewith from the firearm, the said stop pawl being adapted to engage a feeder at the completion of each intermittent feeding movement thereof to prevent further movement of the feeder in feeding direction while said feed slide is moving in retrograde direction, and means movable by said feed slide substantially at the completion of the retrograde movement thereof to disengage said auxiliary stop pawl from a feeder.

GEORGE WEBB. WILLIAM L. SVVARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 487,238 Accles Dec. 6, 1892 1,007,911 Bjorgum Nov. 7, 1911 1,402,564 Bourdelles Jan. 3, 1922 1,451,443 Fowler Apr. 10, 1923 1,800,595 Browning Apr. 14, 1931 1,897,099 Woody et al Feb. 14, 1933 1,936,254 Moore Nov. 21, 1933 2,027,893 Williams Jan. 14, 1936 2,222,812 Faulkner et al Nov. 26, 1940 2,339,869 Martin h Jan. 25', 1944 2,375,452 Webb May 8, 1945 2,375,453 Webb May 8, 1945 2,429,497 Trotter Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 617,369 Germany Aug. 17, 1935 

